Sound record and correction marker therefor



Nov; 4, 1941. B; A. PROCTOR 2,261,234

SOUND RECORD AND CORRECTION MARKER THEREFOR Filed Jan. 23, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fiarfan A. Procror a ATTORNEY5 1941. B. A. PROCTOR 6 ,284

sounn RECORD AND CORRECTIONAMARKER THEREFOR Filed Jan. 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR A. Procfor a I I W f-M ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1941. PROCTOR 2,261,284

' SOUND RECORD AND commot on MARKER THEREFOR Filed Jan.' 25, 1940 s Sheets-Sheet s i INVENTOR 50/10 A. Prvcfor ATTORNEYS rection.

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 SOUND RECORD AND CORRECTION MARKER THEREFOR Bar'to'n A. Proctor, Larchmont, N. Y., assignor to B. A. Proctor Company, Inc" New York, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application'January' 23.1940, Serial No. 315,169

' 4 Claims. (01. 274-4) This invention relates to sound translating machines, and more particularly to machines are subsequently transcribed. With machine used for the dictation and transcription of letthat there is no possibility of an erroneous notation. I To this end it is a feature of the invention that the machine is equipped with a marking device for making a visible mark upon th'ereoord in a' location bearing a definite and mechanically determined relation to that portion of the record in which the erroroccurs; the registration of the mark being efiected 'by the simple expedient of pressing a button and holding it down or some equally simple manipulation, while the directio dictation, however, it is not feasible actually to delete unwanted matter, the result being that after the transcriber hears and writes down some portion of the record it develops that the record goes on to say 'strike out all the matter beginning with so and so down to thepresent point and substitute"-etc. This means, perhaps; that a page or a good portion of a page' of typing is wasted because the error-has been carried too far to admit of correction by erasure. The transcriber having rewritten. the page down to the point of deletion is apt to. run into the same situation again before the page is finished.

The best method heretofore devised for avoida ing such extreme inediciency as that indicated above has been to require the dictator to make a pencil memorandum by -line number of the points in the record where changes are to be found, so that the operator 'by consulting the memorandum in advance of transcription may be put on. guard'and may take such precautionary measures as will tend'to avoid the transcription of an-unwanted part of the dictation.

This method of noting errors is subject to several drawbacks. The most serious of these is is not wanted. r

for amendment are being dictated. l

The transcriber, upon receiving a record for transcription which contains .oneor more correction notation marks,'first causes .the machine to reproduce the portions containing the error or errors and thedirections for amendment so as to be apprised in advance of the material which The transcriber is now able, when the deleted matter is reached in regular order, to avoid the typing of it and to pick up the thread of the dictation without substantial likelihood of error. 1

that it necessitatesinterruption of the dictators train of thought by requiring him to give attention to such mechanical details as laying down his work, finding a pencil, and writing the memorandum which requires attention of his eyes as well as his hand. Then, too, he must look at the line indicator, read it and note down the line reading. This at best is an estimate of the approximate position on the record of thematter to be deleted. The recorded result is subject to the usual possibilityof human error, but to an exceptional degree because the dictator is apt to be thinking more about the subject matter of his dictation than the mechanics of recording a cor- It is an object of the present; invention to provide adictation machine equipped with means for mechanically recording the notation of an error, and this with such simplicity and precision tion of the arrows;' and ,The novelty of the present invention relates both to the machine for facilitating the mechanicalnotation of errors and to the record which includes such mechanically made, visible hotations.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings forming part of this specification and illustrating a practical and advantageous embodiment of the invention:

Fig; 1 is a View in sectional side elevation of a machine embodying features of the invention,

the section being taken upon the line ll of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig-12 is a view in sectional elevation of 'a marking device for marking the notations of er ror, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 isa fragmentary detail view illustrating particularly the feeding means for the marking material; 1

Fig. 4 isa horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-.-4 of Fig. l and looking in the direc- Fig. 5 is a plan view of a record produced by the illustrated machine and having a number of error notation marks recorded upon it.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a machine of the kind disclosedin' my pending application Serial No. 281,811, filed June 29, 1939,

although its utility is not confined to a machine of that type. Reference may be had to the speci- I fication and drawing of application Serial No.

281,811 for a complete disclosure of the illustrative machine, exclusive of the error marking devicefand hence the parts which are not new with .the present application will be but briefly described herein.

The illustrative machine comprises a frame structure I which carriw a turtle-backsupport 2 upon which a thin, flexible disc record I may be mounted. The record 3. is impaled upon and interfltted with a center spindle I, which spindle'.

is mounted on a carriage 5. The record 3 is driven rotatively by a fixed feed wheel 8 anda cooperative feed wheel I. The feed wheel I and its shaft 1b are revolubly supported in a rocker raised to carry the feed wheel I away from and I toward the record.

A motor 6a is connected through a belt 8b to drive a pulley 6c, fast on the drive shaft id of the feed wheel 8.

Rotation of the record 3 is transmitted to the center spindle 4- and thence through spiral gears II and Ila to a feed screw I 2 which is mounted in the carriage 5 and serves as the driving element,for the carriage. The feed screw is engageable with a half nut I3. The half nut I3 is carried at the forward end of an arm I4 fast on a shaft 15. The shaft I5 also has fast upon it an upwardly extending arm I6 which may be actuated to cause the half nut I3 to be rocked out of engagement with the feed screw I2 and into engagement with the feed screw I2. 'I'he'nut arm I4 is immovable axially of the feed screw I2, and hence when the half nut I3 is engaged with the feed screw, rotation of the feed screw causes the feed screw and its carriage to move in the direction of the axis of the feed screw and to carry the center spindle I 'away from the point at which the'feed wheels engage the record. As a result of the compound motion imparted to the record, a stationary recording stylus II is caused to form a spiral sound track in -the face.of the record 3 which progresses -'outward from the center as the sound track is scribed on the record by the stylus.

'. The disclosed machine comprises a recording unit I I which carries the recording stylus Iland theyoke 22 being rockably mounted upon a horizbntal shaft 2:. v

Suitable selector or control mechanism is provided for locating the recording stylus I8 in record-engaging position for recordi'ng, for substituting the reproducing stylus in the identical, positlon for reproducing, and for locating both styluses out of engagement with the record and concurrently arresting the record drive. These operations are performed by mechanism under the control of an operating finger piece 51 which is fast upon the forward end of a shaft 58. The

finger piece may be operated to any one of three' positions designated, respectively, as Recor Neutral and Reproduce? Theshaft 88 has fixed to it a beveled pinion 6I'which, through a meshing beveled pinion 62 fast on a camshaft 83, serves to operate the camshaft. f

The-cam shaft hasfastupon it four cams ll, 55, 66 and 61. Upon movement of'the control handle 51 from the "record position inFlg. 4 to the "neutral position, in which position the handle extends vertically upward from the shaft SI, the cam "comes into play and by engage ment with the tail member I of the frame 8 serves to carry the feed roller I out of engages the lever at the opposite side of the fulcrum to be raised, said forward portion engaging arm 68 to lift the recorder I1.

1 When the forward end of the lifter lever as has attained its uppermost position, the parts are in neutral" position and the record is stopped. The

cam 64 has, in the meantime, been carried into engagement with the arm I6 to rock the shaft l and the nut arm I in a counter-clockwise direction', as viewed in Figure 1.

Thus in the neutral" position the feed wheel I has left engagement with the record, both the recording and reproducing units are held up away from the record, the reproducing unit I9 through an arm 10, and the feed nut I3 has been carried out of engagement with the feed screw I2. The parts may next be shifted to the position for reproducing by operating the control or selector member 51 to the reproduce position to the left of the shaft 58 in Fig. 4. The cam 61, which has not up to now performed any function, comes into engagement with the pivot pin 24.

The cam 61 pushes the pivot pin 24 to the rear swinging the yoke about the pivot pin 23, and causing the recording unit I"! and the reproducing unit I9 to be'carried rearward. As a consequence of this movement, the stylus 20 is located over the record in the same vertical line previously occupied by the stylus I8. After this rearward movement the lifter lever 68 moves downward permitting the stylus 20 to be lowered intov engagement with the record in precisely the position previously occupied by the stylus I8. The

completion of the operation of the member 51 to 0rd 3 is caused .to move bodily in the manner al- 8 are mounted for rocking I ready described. The detailed description up to this point is of the machine disclosed in application Serial No. 281,811.

When the dictator is using the machine and realizes that an error has been made, he will dictate directions for the correction of the error, but at the same time he will operate-a record marking device III. for causing a visible mark to be drawn on the record simultaneously with the dictation of the directions for correction. The marking device does not mark the portion of the record at which the directions for correction actually occur, but it is located .at a fixed distance from the point at which the stylus engages the record, and hence makes a mark in a mechanically determined relation to the point at which the directions for correction are found. When the transcriber is reproducing the record piecemeal for the purpose of becoming familiar with the corrections, it is only necessary to locate a correction mark under the marker, whereupon the machine may be set to reproduce, and the directions for correction will immediately be heard. To facilitate locating of the mark under tlllie marker there may be provided a fixed pointer The correction marker comprises a block I02 which is affixed to a frame member I" by any suitable means. The block I02 includes a rear lateral extension I to which a bearing plate IIII is afllxed by screws I06 or 'other suitable gaging a feed screw I28 which carries a feed pismeans; The lower'end of the bearing plate- I cooperates with an ear I01 formed on the block I02 and provides bearing for a tube I08 which contains a pencil I09 of marking material. The marking material may be in thenature of a crayon, but it is preferably somewhat softer and more moldable than the usual crayon material, being desirably of substantially the same composition and consistency as material commonly used for lip stick. The forward end of the tube I08 is provided with a cross pin IIO which extends across the mouth of the tube and which revolubly supports a marking roller III. When the roller-is in engagement with the record 3 it is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 2 by virtue of the fact that the engaged portion of the record which is illustrated in Figure 2 will be traveling toward the right in that figure. The mouth portion of the tube is cut away to provide suitable clearance between the tube and the periphery of the roller III, as

illustrated in Figure 2.

The tube I08 is provided near its forward end with laterally projecting pins II2 which are received in slots H3 formed in the oppositesides of a yoke H4. The yoke H4 is aflixed to a .pression coil spring I The spring I20 bears at its upper end against'the lower surface of the head II9. When the head H9 is pressed downton I29 at its forward end. The'cap I has affixed to it a pin I29a which plays-in a longiward the plungers III arid I I5 move downward as a unit until the roller III'engages the record. The plunger I I I may be thrust fartherdownward until a shouldered portion I2I of the plunger comes into engagement with the upper face of the block I02 and positively prevents further downward movement. After downward movement of the roller II II has been arrested by engagement with the record and before downwardv movement ofthe plunger III has been arrested, the plungers H5 and Ill move relative to one another, compressing a light coil spring I22 which is disposed in the upper end of'the bore I I 6 z of the plunger II I. The pressure of the roller III against the record is limited to the force which can be exerted by a measured compression of the light spring I22. There is no possibility,

I therefore, of the roller III deforming the sound track of the record. The plunger H5 is limited in its outward movement relative to the plunger II I by means of a cross pin I 23 aflixed to the plunger I II, which cross pin extends through and plays in longitudinal slots I24 formed in the 626 is journalled. The ratchet wheel I26 is held to the cap I25 by bent arms I21, three of the arms being illustrated in Figure 3. The arms I2I may be affixed to the'cap I 25 in any suitable manner as by spot Welding. The ratchet wheel I26 has an internally threaded portion for ena forward, rounded end I40 of a lever I4I.

tudinal slot I30 formed in one side of the feed screw I 28 to restrain the feed screw normally against rotation. A pawl BL. is pivotally mounted upon a pin I32 carried by the plate I05 and is normally held in position to intercept a tooth of the ratchet I26 as the ratchet moves upward, and thereby to cause the ratchet to be turned clockwise (as seen in Fig. 3), a distance of one tooth space.

The pawl I3I includes a horizontally extending arm I33 which is normally held up against a stop I34 of the block I02 by means of a tension spring I35. The spring is connected at one end to a pin I36 aflixed to the block I02 and at the other end to a finger piece I3I carried by the arm I33.

The rotation imparted to the ratchet I26 is effective to advance the non-rotary feed screw I28, and its piston I29 a short distance toward the wheel III and thereby to urge the marking material I09 toward the wheel.

When it is desired to replenish the supply of marking material in the tube I08, it is necessary to remove the feed screw I28, the cap I25, and the ratchet wheel I26 from the tube I08, and also to retract the feed screw relative to the cap and ratchet.

The removal of the cap I25 from the tube I08 requires that the arms I2'I be turned counter- 'rear or outer' end with a knurledknob or finger piece I38, whereby the feed screw can be turned. Since the feed screw and the cap I25 are prevented from rotation relative to one another, the

- turning of the knob I38 is effective to unscrew the cap from the tube I 08. When the cap has been thus unscrewed the feed screw, the cap, and the ratchet wheel may be removed as a unit from the tube I08.'.The feed screw is then re-:

found to be pressing the marking material firmly against the wheel III. The latter part of this adjusting rotation can, if desired, be produced through repeated operation of the plunger III.

It will be observed that the correction marker described is arranged to apply the correction indicatin'g mark directly upon the record itself, and this without more attention on the part of the dictator than the pressing of a button. While the marker has thus far been described as designed for direct manual'operation, means are also provided for operating the marker by remote control.

The upper portion of the plunger III, including a portion of the head II9which is integral with the plunger, is slotted for the reception of The head H9 includes a cover plate I42 which overlies the end of the lever and covers the slot, and which is securedto the main body of the head in any suitable manner as by spot welding. The lever I 4| is fulcrumed at I43 upon a stationary arm I44 of the block I02. The tail portion of the lever I is formed with a slot I45 for receiving a cross pin I45 carried by the armature I41 of an electromagnet I45.

The electromagnet is normally deenergized, but may be energized at will to produce a single upward pull of the armature I" by the closing of a normally open manual switch I45, Figure 4, Y

vided at the machine or at any distance away 7 from the machine, and may be arranged for op- I eration by either the hand or foot of the dietator. When the electromagnet is energizedthe plunger II! is thrust downward, and when the electromagnet is thereafter deenergized, the plunger II! is carried upward by the spring I20. The operation is in all respects the same as when the plunger is manually actuated from the head H8. I

' The mark forindicating each correction may extend throughout all or a portion of the sector of the record which contains the direction for correction to which it relates, and is disposed at a fixed radial distance inward from the portion of the record to which it pertains. When the transcriber'wishes'to check the cor-- rections the record is placed upon the center spindle 4,-with the control member 51 in the neutral position. The carriage isthen-shii'ted manually to bring the flrstporrection mark I50.

beneath, or nearly beneath, the wheel III. The recorded matter I5I or a portion preceding it on the record may be thereby disposed in stylus engaging position. The control member 51 is operated to the "reproduce position and the contents of the reproduced portion, including the portion I5I are mentally noted. The member 51 is then returned to the fneutral position, and the carriage is again shifted to bring the beginning of the mark I52 beneath or nearly beneath the wheel III. The recorded matter in the region of the heavy line I53 is then in position to be reproduced and is reproduced by operating the control member 51 to the reproduction" position. Similarly the marks I54 and I55 are successively utilizedln reproducing the portions of the recording in the .region'ot the heavy lines I56 and I 51, respectively.

The transcriber is now ready to reproduce the record for transcription, and proceeds'to do so by setting the carriage to the zero position, and then setting the control member 5'! to the reproducing position. f l V A specific mode of procedure for utilizing the correction marker has been pointed out. This procedure may, of course, be altered or varied in any way which is found to be practical and sat-. isfactory.

I have described what I believe to be the best embodiments of my invention.- I do not wish,

however, to be confined to the embodiments shown, but what -I desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

Iclaim: LA dictation machine comprising, in combination, means for. driving a record, means for recording sound upon the record, and record marking means comprising a tube for holding a supply of marking material, a marking roller mounted across the discharge end 01 the tube, means supporting the tube for rocking movement about an axis that extends transversely of the tube axis, means for rocking the tube to carry the roller against the record, and means operated as an, incident or the rockin of the tube to feed the marking material toward the marking roller.

2. A dictation machine comprising, in combination, means for driving a record, means for recording sound upon the record, and record marking means comprising a tube for holding a supply of ,marking material, a marking roller mounted across the discharge end of the tube, means supporting the tube for rocking movement about an axis that extends transversely of the tube axis, means for rocking the tube to carry the roller against the record, means operated as an incident of 'the rocking of the tube to feed the marking material toward the marking roller comprising a piston in the tube, a feed screw Joined to the piston, a rotary feed me'mber havmg threaded engagement with the feed screw,

- and means cooperative with said rotary member step at each reciprocaan incidentot the rocking of the tube to feed the marking material toward the marking roller comprising a piston in the tube, a feed screw joined to the piston, a cap threaded on the tube and including means for restraining the feed screw against rotation, a rotary member carriedby the cap and having threaded engagement with the feed screw, and means cooperative with the rotarymember for advancing it a step at each reciprocation of the tube.

4. A dictation machine comprising; in combi-- nation, means iordriving a record, means tor recording sound upon the record, and record marking means comprising a tube for holding a' supply of marking material, a marking roller mounted across the discharge end or the tube,

means supporting the tube for rocking movement about an axis' that extends transversely of the tube axis, means for rocking the tube to'carry the roller against the record, and means operated as an incident of the rocking of the tube to feed the marking material toward the marking,

J roller comprising a piston in' the tube, a feed screw joined to the piston, a cap threaded on the tube and including means for restraining the feed screw against rotation, a, rotary member carried by the cap and having threaded engagement with the feed screw, said rotary member 'being formed with rotary teeth andbeing shiitable bodily by and withthe tube, and a pawl co.- operative with said 'teeth to rotate the rotary member step by step.

BARTON A. raoc'ron. 

